Aella stumbled back into a hard surface, her head swinging from side to side as she took in the sudden jump. She was on the far side of a massive square, pressed against a wall that stretched twenty stories high. There seemed to be a single building that wrapped around the square, with it's center doorway to her right, standing two-stories high and made out of chrome metal, tipped with aquamarine.

The building was massive, with spires and towers soaring high into the sky, connected by covered bridges. Around the sides, hanging from the banisters, were dozens of flags with symbols that looked like crests. She recognized one, a black flag with a scarlet wolf's head and silver crossed sabers as the flag of Mortia, one of the Alpha Game's top guilds. Bringer of Death came from that one. She searched the flags, stepping away from the wall to look above her. She recognized another flag, this one light aqua with a silver trident crossing the center of a silver circle, with white and silver waves spilling out of the bottom of the circle.

"Sell your catch and purchase items. Any profit or items you gain in this challenge will be added to your account" the mechanical voice said.

Aella turned her attention in front of her, watching a timer with an hour on it appeared in her vision, then minimized to the top right of her view.

Okay. That sounds pretty easy. She glanced around her at the dozens of brightly colored stalls and vendors, the air filled with a hum of voices. Players milled around in groups around vendors, or walked between the aisles. So this is a market.

She felt a weight on her hip and she looked down, seeing the bag she had gained in the Ocean challenge. She pulled it open and her eyes widened at how many of the small fish were in her bag. A meter appeared above the bag with a small icon of a fish and the number 52. She closed the flap, and looked back up as a metallic ding filled her ears.

"You have 52 fish in all," the mechanical voice said.

She nodded and looked around. Players stood at each of the vendors directly in front of her, bartering for different items. She stepped out and began to walk to her right, making her way through the crowd. There were stalls of fresh food, the aroma appetizing, and stalls with weapons, others with clothing. A few stalls held jewelry and small objects. She stopped, trying to get a better look when she stumbled as someone ran into her.

She twisted, catching a glimpse of tall player in scarlet and black armor moving away from her through the crowd, a twisting black helmet with a tinted visor covering his entire face. Two massive swords crisscrossed on his back, and the crowd parted as he hurried past them.

He's in a hurry. She shook her head. No time for wondering, you've got a job to do.

"Welcome," a female voice called to her.

Aella turned to the vendor, who was smiling at her, and waving a hand.

"Come, come; see what I have to offer, Beta."

Aella groaned. It's that obvious?

She stepped forward, between two other players, each in impressive suits of armor, with massive weapons on their backs and hips. She glanced down at the velvet-covered table, a wide variety of necklaces, rings, and cuffs spread out on its surface.

The player to her left, a tall man with golden skin and ashy, light-blue hair smiled at her.

She smiled back, and turned her attention to the vendor.

"I am Elyla," the vendor said. "I work for Charon, the great blacksmith of the Alpha Game. He takes orders, and we have a two-week guarantee--if you don't have it in two weeks, you get it free. As a Beta, you are not authorized to by amulets or weapons yet, but I can answer whatever questions you have."

Aella smiled at the woman, and nodded. "These are amulets?"

Elyla nodded her head once. "They are used to hold magic and spells, so you don't run out of magic during a fight. Some people, if their magic is high enough--mostly Fighters, you know--don't even use their magic, but rely on the magic they've put into their amulet. Charon hasn't made an amulet with a limit yet, you know. You can fill it with as much magic as you want. Some of these are more complex, and you can add spells to them, so they can do specific things."

Sounds useful--I wonder how much--

"Now they are expensive," Elyla said. She pointed to a small ring in front of Aella, a simple black band with small red gems set into the center. "That is one of the simpler pieces, simply for holding magic, and it is 50 silver credits, or 500 bronze credits."

Aella nodded. There is a currency system I need to learn too. This is getting easier and easier.

"But, I've kept you long enough," Elyla said. "You need to sell something, am I right?"

Aella nodded. "Fish from the Ocean Test."

Elyla smiled. "Keep on going down this aisle, take a left and pass the center aisles until you get the far wall. That is where the produce and fish vendors are. And remember, when you need an amulet, come visit Charon on the first floor of the High Council."

"Thank you, I will," Aella said, and stepped away.

She made her way to the end of the aisle and paused. Supply and demand. She spotted a small platform hidden behind several crates and barrels and made her way to it.

She nodded. That will work quite nicely. She started to move a barrel, grunting at how heavy it was.

"Need some help, Beta?

She turned to see the light-blue haired man standing a few feet from her, his arms crossed over the silver chestplate of his armor. She nodded, pointing behind her. "I need to get onto the platform so I can be seen. I have fish to sell."

He nodded. "You don't have to move all of the barrels, then. Just the ones that are blocking the front. We should be done in a few minutes."

Aella watched as he stepped forward and started to move the barrels out of the way. She stepped forward and began to help, twisting the barrel and rolling it on it's bottom out of the way.

"I'm Giescul, from the Invictus Guild," he said as he moved the last barrel out of the way.

Aella smiled and held out her hand. "Thank you, Giescul of Invictus" she said, as he reached forward and shook her hand. His massive hand enveloped hers and his grip was firm, but gentle enough not to crush her fingers.

"And you are?" he said, pulling back his hand.

"Aella Rynnex, Beta" she said, chuckling. "And out to sell some fish."

"Here," he said, moving closer to the platform, and joining his hands together to make a step.

Aella moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder, then stepped onto his hands. He moved and she moved high enough so she could grab the top of the platform and swing herself onto it.

"Thank you," she said as she peered over the edge.

"No problem," he said. "I hope you check us out during the Welcome Ceremonies."

"I will," she said, standing to her feet.

He nodded and grinned, his white teeth flashing in the morning sunlight. "Ready?"

Aella checked her bag of fish and nodded. Forty minutes left to go.

"Fish, fresh from the sea, the finest in the game," Giescul shouted, his voice bellowing above the hum of the market.

Aella raised an eyebrow as several of the players around him turned to look, then up at her. "Hello," she called out, raising both of her arms out to the side and bowing. She pointed to a man, wearing black armor over a blood red tunic, with black pants sticking out of the bottom. "Might I interest you in some fresh fish? Caught not but ten minutes ago, these fish are the freshest you are going to find. And you," she said to a woman who was watching her with a smile on her face, her clothes simple except for the twisting swords that hung from her back, and the row of throwing knives that were slung across her chest. "I am willing to say that you could use some fish to liven up your diet while on those long, cold missions where all you have to is leftovers."

By this time, several people had gathered at the bottom of the platform and were watching as she was talking. She knelt as she began to speak, "Imagine sitting around a fire, cold, hungry. Then you reach into your bag," and she did so, pulling a fish from the bag, "and you pull out a fish. Soon it is crackling and cooking in your pot, and the smell of the ocean, of home, of a meal fit for a king, starts filling the air. It is seasoned to perfection, the skin delicately crispy, the tender flesh light and slightly flaky to the bite. Of course, it is only then you realize that your amazing dinner has also attracted the attention of several carnivorous creatures that very much want your dinner."

A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, and Aella smiled as several more people began to stand behind the others. She stood and began to pace back and forth slowly. "So, what do you do?"

She waved the fish at the players. "I don't know, Aella," she said, stopping and pausing her chin. Then she spun and pretended to pull a sword from a hilt at her hip. "I," she said, making her voice deeper. "Would fight the hungry creatures. Then I would stick them in the pot with my fish. Why?" She turned to the small crowd. "Because this is no ordinary fish."

She held it out for them to see.

"This fish," she said, raising a finger to the sky, "not only has the power to be your dinner, but to bring dinner to you. So, which of you lovely players would want to partake of this amazing fish? The starting price is five bronze credits."

I really hope that is a decent price for a fish, and not too little.

"I'll take three," Giescul called out.

"Three amazing fish for fifteen bronze credits," she answered, moving to her bag.

"I'll offer you twenty," the woman with the swords and knives said, moving to Giescul's side.

Aella raised an eyebrow. "Twenty credits for three fish?."

"Twenty-five" Giescul said.

"Thirty," the woman said, turning to face him, her arms crossed.

"Fish--get your amazing fish while these two battle it out" she said.

"I'll take four" a man said, holding up several coins. Aella nodded and pulled out four fish, placing them on the platform edge and taking the money. She glanced down as a small pouch appeared on her left hip, attached to her belt and she placed the coins into it. A line formed and she passed out several dozen fish, pocketing the coins into her pouch. The crowd had gathered around the two Alphas who were still shouting prices.

She glanced into her pouch and saw that she had three fish left. For whoever wins the shouting match.

"Seventy-five" the woman shouted.

"Eighty credits for the three fish," Giescul shouted, turning to Aella. "And no more."

Aella turned to the woman, raising an eyebrow. The woman shook her head and shoved her way out of the crowd, heading down the aisle.

"Three fish sold for eighty bronze credits to Giescul of Invictus," she shouted. The crowd laughed and clapped as she bent down so she was sitting on the platform. She handed the bag to Giescul and smiled.

"Thank you very much," she said as he handed her a small handful of coins.

He laughed and shook his head. "Her name is Destiny, from the Furies guild. They're mercenaries for Mortia, and there is some bad blood between Invictus and the Furies ever since Bringer of Death died. They were responsible for his death, you know."

Aella looked over the crowd of people in the direction the woman had gone. So that is what a dangerous player looks like. I never would have guessed. Her mind went back to the gleaming weapons the woman had worn, then nodded. Maybe I would have guessed.

She looked down at Giescul who was holding her bag back up to her. She took it and placed it on her hip. The crowd had thinned out, the players moving about to go on with their daily business.

"Have you decided on an affiliation yet?" Giescul asked.

She glanced up, seeing ten minutes left to go for the challenge. She put the coins in her pouch, then slid off of the platform and landed on the cobblestones, her knees bent. She groaned as a shock of pain hit her knees. So distances work the same as they do in real life. Good to know.

She stood and faced him. "No, I'm still in testing. But I liked the sound of the Elite profession."

Giescul nodded. "The spells for the Elite profession are similar for dark or light players, the only difference is with healing spells, and how you gather energy for spells. It's a good profession, has a lot of opportunities to gain items."

"Any tips?" she said. "I think I have the Sailor and Fighter tests still to do."

Giescul nodded. "If you want to become an Elite, keep an eye out for items you come across like medicine or weapons, and try to capture enemies rather than killing them. That makes all the difference between a Fighter and an Elite--the Elites are scouts so their stats are not as high for enemy battles."

"I'll keep it in mind," she said, smiling. "And thank you for all of your help."

Giescul shook his head. "It's no problem, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." His face grew more serious. "But I hope to see you during the Opening Ceremony at our tavern. It's two blocks from here, and anyone is welcome."

Aella nodded. "I will."

Giescul bowed to her. "Then I shall take my leave and wish you the best of luck, Aella Rynnex."

She nodded and waved as he turned and walked off. She leaned against the platform and glanced down at her pouch. The number three hundred and thirty five hovered above her pouch. Not bad for my first market adventure. It's almost enough to buy one of those amulets.

"Time is finished," the mechanical voice said.

Aella groaned as a shimmering oval appeared in front of her.

"Please enter the portal for your next test."

She stepped forward and touched the portal, this time closing her eyes.